Cotton chopper



Jan. 30, 1923. 1,443,562

d. COLTHARP. COTTON CHOPPER. FILED JUNE 24, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Rf W gwuawtoz Jan/Lea COZi'hCUf O,

2 SHEETS'SHE Jan. 30, 1923.

J COLTHARP COTTON CHOPPER F1 LED JUNE 24 1 922 @2186 cal /m 73M wfwza,

aktouuqnu Patented Jan. 3513. 1923.

JAIMES COLTHARP, OF BLUE MOUNTAIN, MISSISSIPPI.

COTTON CHOPPER.

Application filed June 2 1,

To all whom it mayv cancer-"n:

Be it known that I, Janus Corrrnanr, a citizen of the United States residing at Blue Mountain, in the county of Tippah and 5 State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton Choppers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the-same.

This invention relates to agricultural implements. and more particularly to that type of implement known as a cotton chopper wherein the chopper or hoe instrument is movable transye sely in the arc of a circle means being provided for adjusting the chopper toward and away from the ground.

The various features of novelty and invention will appear from the detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming part of this specification.

In the drawings, 5 Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the device,

parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line. 2:2

of Fig. 1, and I Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 of 2.

In the drawings. 10 indicates the wheels "f the implement, 11 the axles thereof which "e secured. in leg members 12 projecting downwardly from a cross piece 13. Depending from the cross piece 13 are a pair of supports 15 and a second pair of supports 16, these supports being on opposite sides of the cross bar 13 and being connected by a cross member 17 which rests on said cross piece.

The numeral 18 indicates the bottom member or cross piece of a U-shapcd frame having; legs 19 which extend upwardly into the sup orts 15. said supports prefe bly being n the form of a tube. Projecting laterlly from the tops of the legs 19 are lugs :0 which project through a slot 21 in said .upports 15. Mounted on the cross piece 13 is a pair of hell cranks and cooperating quadrants 23, there being link connection is between said bell cranks and the lugs 20. The links 21 are headed as at 2% and are slidable downwardly through said lugs. Enclosed within the supports 15 are expansion coil springs 25 which re-act against the top of the legs 19. It will now be under- 1922. 'Serial No. 570.601.

stood that the U-shaped frame 18, 19 may be bodlly adjusted by means of the bell crank levers 22, such adjustment bcingmade against the tension of the spring 25.

Mounted on the cross piece 18 is a hoe beam 26, 27 indicating the pivotal connection between said members. 7 This hoe beam, is preferably of T shape in plan, members 28 constituting the head of said T. The purpose of this 11 ad will be presently explained.

Adjustably mounted within the support 16 is a post 29, 29 indicating any suitable means for securing said post in adjusted position within said support 16. The lower end of' this post 29 supports a crankshaft 30, one crank of said shaft being connected by an adjustable pitman 31 with one end of the head 28 of the hoe beam, the pivotal connection between said head and pitman being indicated at 32. I

The legs 12 of the'wheel frame are extended below the wheel axles 11 and support a crank shaft 33, the crank of which is connected by link 34 with the second crank of the crank shaft 30. The other end of the shaft 33 carries a pinion 35 which meshes with an internal gear 36 carried by the wheels 10.

The numeral 37 indicates a tongue which is suitably connected to the wheel frame as by a saddle bracket 38 secured to the cross piece 13, there being also a suitable brace 39 extending between said tongue and supports 16. Extending between the legs 13 and the depending supports 15 and 16 is a brace 10.

Mounted on the hoe beam 26 is a hoe or chopper member 11, the samebeing mount-- ed on the hoe beam as by straps 41. Also mounted on the hoe beam is another chopper 41:2 likewise suspended from the beam by a strap 1-2. The chopper'4l2 as shown. preferably projects below the cutting edge of the hoe member 41.

The operation of the impl men be briefly described: As th ip e drawn along by draft anima s hi to tongue 31', the shaft is caused to rotate by the wheels 10 through the gears 35 and 36. Rotation of theshaft 33 imparts rotation to the shaft 30 through the link 34: and shaft 30 imparts an oscillatory motion to the head 23 of the hoe beam by reason of the link connection 31. This oscillatory motion of the head 28 causes a lateral swinging movement of the hoe beam. The hose or choppers are, therefore, moved from side to side to cut the cotton as will now be readily understood.

In order to vary the cutting depth of the choppers the latter may be adjustedL by means of the bell crank or elbow levers .-2., this adjustment being made against the tension of the springs 25. If the chopper should meet some unyielding obstruction, the U-shaped frame 18, 19 would rise against the action of the spring '25, it being remembered that there is a sliding connection between lugs 20 and the links 2i, which are connected to the elbow levers 22.

In order to compensate for the adjustme t of the frame 18, 19 relatively to their-us *1? of the main frame, th links 31 are or the adjustable type, preferably of the cushion type. if so desired, the linlc 2%. which connects the shafts 30 and 33 may also he of similar type.

In order to give wide range of adj 'stmcut of the mechanism, the post 19 in whii'h the crank shaft 30 is moiiintcd is also made a t justable. After adjustment of the DO, has been made, the securing means but l L .d post in fixed position and consequently. the connecting link Set may be of fixed length in cont-radistinction to the nk 31 which already indicated, is prefer bly of ion type due to the fact that the fi. carries the hoe beam is subj 5 matic adjustment as well as manual a: ment.

While Z ha e shown the hoe beam car Y rving hoes. i desire it to be understood tla,

the invention is not limited to that iar type of instrument. Any suitable agicultural tool may be attchcal to the bee beam.

ii litit I desire to secure by cut is:

l. in combuiation. a. pair of wheels. a wheel ttrame to which said wheels are our ualed. posts depending from said frame. a U-shaned if ame shdablv su'i )orted bv said i i posts, a laterally swingable hoe beam supported by the cross piece otsaid ti-shaped frame. and means for swinging id beam.

2. In combination. a pair of wheels, :1 wheel frame to which said wieels are ourat i Letters Patnaled, posts depending from said frame, a U-shaped frame slidably supported by said posts, a laterally swingable hoe beam supported by the cross piece of said U-shaped frame, a crank shaft. means supporting said crank shaft, means for driving said shaft from one of the wheels, and connections between the hoe beam and crank shaft.

8. In combination, a pair of wheels, a wheel frame to which said wheels are journaled, posts depending from said frame, a i -shaped frame slidaliily supported by said posts, a laterally svingable T-shaped hoe beam supported by the cross piece of said U-shaped frame. and means connected to the ends of the head of the T for s 'ingingsaid beam.

1-. in combination, a pair of wheels, a

no to which said wheels are journaled, posts depending from said frame, a o -shaped frame slidablv supported by said posts, a Teiliaped hoe beam supported by salt. tl-slu ped frame, a crank shaft adjustably sup 4 i 7 oilltl a pair of wheels, an inve ed ti-shaned frame to the le s of which rt said whee are connected, supports depend- Q from the cross piece of said frame. a hoe in, a frame on which said hoe beam is pivo ally mounted, means for adjustably seem c; said hoe beam frame to said. suppo .it. means permitting automatic adjustment of saiu hoe beam frame, and means permitting manual adjustment of said hoe beam frame.

6. In combination, a pair of wheels, an inverted U-shaped frame to the legs of which said wheels are jouri'iaied, a hoe beam, a sup port on which said hoe b am is mounted for laterally swinging movemeiiit, means. depending froinsaid ii-shaped frame for supporting); said hoe beam support. a pair of iiidependent supports the lower ends of which is mounted a crank shaft, driving connection between said crank shaft and said hoe beam, and driving connection between l crank shaft and said wheels.

in testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 

